The short answer
From£1,000ex VAT
The starting point for a fully staffed Mr Flavour mobile bar. A typical package, with five hours of service and three cocktails per guest, works out at £35 per guest.
- How we charge
- Per event, not per hourSet up and breakdown included
- Mixologists
- 1 per 50 guestsFull cocktail menu. Up to 1 per 75 for a simpler serve
- Bar length
- One 1.5m section per 100 guestsAdjusted for menu and glassware
- Lead time
- 4 to 8 weeksEarlier for summer Saturdays and December
Most mobile bar quotes look alike until you read the detail. One includes the glassware, ice and licence. Another adds them later.
This guide sets out how much mobile bar hire costs in the UK in 2026, what the fee covers, and the handful of decisions that move it. The numbers come from the weddings, launches and exhibitions we deliver across the country.
Budgets
Typical budgets by guest count
Our typical package is £35 per guest ex VAT: a fully staffed bar, five hours of service and three cocktails per guest.
| Guests | Cocktails served3 per guest | ServiceSet up and breakdown included | Typical budget£35 per guest, ex VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 150 | 5 hours | £1,750 |
| 100 | 300 | 5 hours | £3,500 |
| 150 | 450 | 5 hours | £5,250 |
| 200 | 600 | 5 hours | £7,000 |
| 300 | 900 | 5 hours | £10,500 |
| 500 | 1,500 | 5 hours | £17,500 |
Theatre, branding, bespoke builds and travel beyond Greater Manchester are quoted on top. VAT is added at the standard rate.
Included
What a mobile bar booking covers
A Mr Flavour quote is a finished bar, not a kit list. All of this comes as standard.
- A designed and dressed bar, delivered, built and cleared
- Professional mixologists and bartenders
- A cocktail and mocktail menu, designed with you
- Glassware, ice and garnish
- A named event manager, from first call to breakdown
- £10 million public liability insurance and personal licence holders
- Local delivery within Greater Manchester
Pricing
What moves the price
Every quote is built from the same five elements. What you choose within each one sets the figure.
- 01
Bar build
Length, shape and finish. Straight, L shaped or circular; dressed for the occasion or fully branded.
- 02
Mixologists and crew
Guest numbers, and how theatrical or slow built the serves are.
- 03
Drinks and menu
Your menu, the number of serves, and how the drinks are paid for.
- 04
Glassware, ice and garnish
Glass type and serve count. Crystal and custom ice sit at the top of the range.
- 05
Logistics and travel
Access, power and distance. Included within Greater Manchester; beyond it, calculated to your venue postcode.
Priced per event. Two hours or five, the team costs the same.
Drinks
How the drinks are paid for
The bar and the drinks are separate decisions. There are four ways to handle the second.
Open bar
You cover every drink, by package or by the serve. Guests never reach for a wallet.
SuitsWeddings, galas, client hospitality
Tab or split bar
You fund a set amount or a set window, such as the drinks reception, then the bar moves to guest paid.
SuitsLong evenings with a late crowd
Cash bar
Guests buy their own drinks. The lowest outlay for you, and it needs a licence to sell at the venue.
SuitsLarge parties and public events
Dry hire
You supply the alcohol; we supply the bar, glassware and team. Often the route when a venue insists on its own licence.
SuitsLicensed venues, or a cellar of your own
Worth knowing. Dry hire is not automatically cheaper. Ice, mixers, garnish and wastage still need costing, and a menu is only as good as the hands making it.
Staffing
Sizing your bar
Queues are a staffing problem before they are a bar problem. These are the ratios we start from.
| Guests | MixologistsFull cocktail menu, 1 per 50 | MixologistsSimpler serve, 1 per 75 | Bar sections1.5m each, 1 per 100 | Service points1 bar per 200 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2 | 2 | 1 (1.5m) | 1 |
| 150 | 3 | 2 | 2 (3m) | 1 |
| 200 | 4 | 3 | 2 (3m) | 1 |
| 300 | 6 | 4 | 3 (4.5m) | 2 |
| 500 | 10 | 7 | 5 (7.5m) | 3 |
Rounded up, then adjusted against your running order. For arrivals we often add a separate welcome station, so the first twenty minutes do not set the tone for the night.
Extras
Theatre and extras
Where premium spend goes, and where a bar becomes the thing guests remember. Each is quoted on top of the core bar.
Liquid nitrogen and dry ice
Vapour across the bar top. Slower to build, so it lifts the staffing ratio.
Molecular serves
Spheres, foams and caviar, prepared before the event.
Occasions
Weddings and corporate events
The same bar, briefed differently. What matters most changes with the room.
Weddings
- Two or three signature serves keep service quick and the menu personal.
- Staff for the arrivals rush; it sets the tone for the evening.
- Spend on a moment: a champagne tower for the toast, or a late cocktail hour.
Corporate and brand events
- Branded frontage, menus and printed serves turn the bar into media.
- Exhibitions run on footfall, so service points matter more than bar length.
- Quotes are ex VAT. HMRC generally allows businesses to reclaim VAT on staff events but not on client entertainment, so check with your accountant.
Planning
Before you sign
Six things to confirm in writing. Almost every problem at a mobile bar is a logistics problem, and all of them are cheaper found early.
Licence
An unlicensed venue needs a Temporary Event Notice: £21, with the council at least 10 working days ahead, for up to 499 people at a time. We can apply for you.
Insurance
Public liability cover, ideally £10 million, and personal licence holders on the team.
Staffing
Mixologist numbers set against guest numbers and the menu.
Power
A 13 amp socket covers most builds. Lighting and refrigeration may need a second circuit; marquees usually need a generator, which we can arrange.
Access and timings
The route from vehicle to bar, any lifts or stairs, and the set up and breakdown windows the venue allows.
Glass and waste
Who clears glass during service, and what leaves site afterwards.
Delivered for Bentley, Aston Martin, Porsche, the BBC, Google, BT, ITV, DHL and Amazon
FAQ
Questions, answered
How much does mobile bar hire cost in the UK?
A fully staffed Mr Flavour mobile bar starts from £1,000 ex VAT. A typical package, with five hours of service and three cocktails per guest, works out at £35 per guest ex VAT. The final figure depends on guest numbers, the size and finish of the bar, and your drinks menu.
What does a mobile bar cost for 100 guests?
Around £3,500 ex VAT for a five hour service with three cocktails per guest, based on our typical rate of £35 per guest. Theatre, branding and bespoke builds are quoted on top.
What is included in the price?
A designed and dressed bar, professional mixologists, a cocktail and mocktail menu, glassware, ice and garnish, a named event manager and £10 million public liability insurance. Delivery within Greater Manchester is included.
How many bartenders do I need?
We start from one mixologist per 50 guests for a full cocktail menu, and up to one per 75 for a simpler serve. A single bar comfortably serves up to 200 guests; past that we add a second service point.
Do I need a licence for a mobile bar?
Only if the venue is unlicensed. A Temporary Event Notice costs £21, must reach the council at least 10 working days before the event, and covers up to 499 people at a time. We can apply on your behalf. Some venues only permit their own licence, in which case dry hire is the route.
Can I supply my own alcohol?
Yes. Dry hire gives you the bar, glassware and team while you supply the drinks. Ice, mixers, garnish and wastage still need costing, so it is not automatically the cheaper option.
Do you charge for travel?
Delivery within Greater Manchester is included. Beyond it, travel is calculated to your venue postcode and built into the quote rather than added later. We deliver across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
How far ahead should I book?
We recommend four to eight weeks, and earlier for summer Saturdays and December. We have turned events around in a week when the date demands it.
Are your prices inclusive of VAT?
No. All Mr Flavour prices are quoted ex VAT, with VAT added at the standard rate.
Our approach
The Mr Flavour approach to pricing
One quote, itemised by element, with travel and logistics built in from the start. Tell us the date, the venue and the guest count, and we will come back with a bar designed around them.